I hated working with a team in India because of their insane work expectations. I’d be online in the morning my time, knowing it’s basically the middle of the night for them. I’d say things weren’t a high priority but they’d still stay online and finish it that day (that sort of stuff). Then they’d basically work first thing when they woke up as well. It was really frustrating in a weird way. I shouldn’t have to resist communicating with a coworker because I suspect they’re going to ruin their work life balance to do something I ask them to (even when I make it clear it’s a low priority). But I can’t just not communicate things that need to be done or ask questions I need answers to. It really sucked.

Like imagine your friend is asleep and you’re at their house. You want some coffee at some point so you just shoot them a text message asking where it is in the kitchen as you go back to bed to wait for them to wake up. Next thing they dart out of their room, groggy, apologizing for over sleeping, and begin making you a whole ass latte. Then imagine them doing stuff like this so often that you’re nervous to ask them to do things so they don’t drop everything to assist. Now imagine they’re a coworker so you must communicate tasks to them. That’s sort of what it felt like.